Educational Content: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.

Definition of Carbolic acid

Medically reviewed by Dr. Otari Nergadze, Neurosurgeon | Updated: January 2026

Carbolic acid: A synonym of phenol. In dilute solution, an antimicrobial agent. First used to clean wounds and dress them by the surgeon Joseph Lister who reported in 1867 that his wards at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary had remained free of sepsis, then a great scourge, for 9 months.

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